Algos run on structure.
We feed them price, volume and other data series, run math on top, and use those signals to trade. That structure breaks on one-off days like wars, emergency announcements — and yes — Budgets.
On these days volatility shoots up, liquidity becomes patchy and activity goes through the roof. Trading may look exciting from the outside, but structurally it’s chaotic. You may make money on stock-specific announcements, but even those are often front-run or quickly priced in.
One of the oldest rules in trading: live to trade another day.
Markets give enough opportunities across the year. There’s no compulsion to make money on any specific day, especially when the risk/vol profile is abnormal.
This Budget is even more unusual — 1st Feb is a Sunday — a day markets don’t structurally operate. When routine breaks, models break. Broker infra works on high tension and speculative flows spike. That combination doesn’t reward systematic trading.
So here’s our stance at Stratzy:
Trading is a long game. We don’t need to swing at every ball. With no edge on a structurally different day, we’re choosing to switch all algos off for the session.
Normal trading on our platform will remain available — you can still transact manually — but automated algo execution will stay paused for the day.
Trade safe.
More opportunities ahead.
Happy Algotrading!
— Mohit Bhandari